Positioning and feeding mechanism for confection-wrapping machines



J. P. REMINGTON POSITIONING AND FEEDING MECHANISM FOR CONFECTIONWRAPPING MACHINES F l y 1917 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Imam/tom Aug. 21., 1923.1,465,402?- J. P REMINGTON POSITIONING AND FEEDING MECHANISM FORCONFECTION WRAPPING MACHINES Filed May 5. 1917 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 ImamJasapkkroyifamizzym J. P. REMINGTON POSITIONING AND FEEDING MECHANISMFOR CONFECTION WRAPPING MACHINES 8 Sheets$heet 3 0 O h 10 mi M -W- a 1|n |uunufl l lflunfinuu l h r rflflrh N n O, n n H n m m m u m Mum G flfl nfl dunu u.. 1 nfl r m.fl nmu|mr| H r m I. lmmih n u kll .1 Q1 1t 0(O art art Aug.21,1923. N I 1,465402 1 J. .P. REMINGTON POSITIONING ANDFEEDING MECHANISM-FOR CONFECTIO N WRAPPING NACHINES Filed May 3 1917 8Sheets-Sheet 4 Imw-wtor M W n w m m t e V/ 8 0 r w w w MW mm m h s o/JVJ a w x: v w

Aug. '21, 1923.

POSITIONING AND FEEDING MECHANISM FOR CONFECTION WRAPPING MACHINES Aug.21,1923. 1,465,402

J. P. REMINGTON POSITIONING AND FEEDING MECHANISM FOR CONFECTIONWRAPPING MACHINES Filed May 5, 1917 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 .FIG. m.

m W W M W Y z WM 7 7 m m u [.1 J m m;

Aug. 21, 1923. 1,465,402

, J. P. REMINGTON POSITIONING AND FEEDING MECHANISM FOR CONFECTIONWRAPPING MACHINES Filed May 1917 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG? K 8 SheetsSheet 8Aug. 21, 1923,

REMINGTON POSITIONING AND FEEDING MECHANISM FOR CONFECTION WRAPPINGMACHINES- Filed May 5 19 7 all) Patented Aug. 21, I923.

@N'ETED? STATES messes rarest @EEFHCE.

JOSEPH PERCY REMINGTON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

-POSI'IIONING :AND FEEDING MECHANISM FOR CDNFEGTION-VTR-APPINGIiIACHINES.

epplication filed May a,

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Josnrrr Pnncr R113:- INGTON, of Philadelphia, in thecounty of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Positioning and Feeding Mechanism forConfectionJVrapping Machines, whereof the following is a specifica tion,reference being had to the accompany.- ing drawings.

, The invention relates to mechanism whereby confections of a generallyconical form are properly set up, aligned, and fed to wrapping mechanismto be individually wrapped in tin foil or similar envelopment. IVhile myinvention is especially'adapted to handling such chocolate confections,it is to be understood that the invention is not thus limited, butcovers the similar setting up, aligning and feeding of similar articles.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. I, is a plan view of a wrappingmachine conveniently illustrating the adaptation of invention thereto. I

Fig. II, is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. III, shows a partial plan view of the left hand end of themachine.

Fig. IV, is a similar view of the right hand end of the machine,

Fig. V, is a longitudinal sectional view through the portion of themachine shown in Fig. III, taken on the line V-V in Fig. III.

Fig. VI, is a detail of the mechanism for intermittently operating themain feed carrier. V

.F VII, illustrates a sectional view through the discharge end of thesupply hopper and. the means for regulating the flow of the articles tobe wrapped.

Fig. VIII, is a longitudinal sectional view through the portion of themachine comprehended in F ig. IV as designated on the said figure by thearrows VIII- -VIII.

F IX. is a partial plan section, along the line IX-IX in Fig. VIII.

Fig. X, is a detail plan on an enlarged scale showing the terminal endsof the run ways and the telling mechanism therefor.

Fig. XI, represents a section along the line XI-XI inpFig; X.

'Figs. XII, and XIII, are detail perspective views of the slip feeds.

Fig. XIV. 's a similar view of one of the tilting devices associatedwith the runways.

1917. Serial No. 166,134.

V Figs. XV, XVI, XVII, and XVIII, are detail views of one of the runwaysillustrat ing the method of guidance and also the ejection of improperlyplaced confections.

Figs. XIX and XX, illustrate the operation of the tilting device shownin detail in XIV In the drawings, the hopper 1, which is kept full ofconfections, is provided at its bottom with an inclined chute 2, leadingto an outlet slot protected by a gate 3, which may be suitably adjustedto vary the height of the outlet slot, and consequently the rate atwhich confections will be fed by gravity from the hopper. Directlybeneath this outlet slot, is an endlessftraveling carrier 4, running onrollers 5, and 6, of which the latter is driven by the worm gear 7, (seeFig. V), actuated bv the belt 8, driven by a pulley geared to the mainshaft 9, which is driven by a worm gear from a shaft 25. which. is inturn actuated from the motor shaft 10.. Supplemental vertical endlessbands 11, 11, protect the edges of the carrier. 4, and travel with it,being driven by the bevel gears 12, (see Fig. III).

By the operation of the parts thus described, a continuous supply ofconfections passes from the hopper on to the endless carrier, and is byit discharged promiscuously upon the inclined chute 13. This chute hassmall perforations 14:, formed in 'it, which permit any crumbs orforeign sub stances which may be fed from the hopper, to be dischargedat this point by way of the chute 15, (Fig. V). I

Beneath the discharge end of the inclined chute 13, is the basing orsetting up table 16, over the surface of which runs the endless carrier17. tion of this tableis that while the whole table reciprocateslongitudinally in relation to. the machine, the receiving end of it isgiven a coincident lateral motion. At the same time the endless carrier1.7, is given intermittent forward motion. The carrier 17 passes aroundrollers 18, and 19, which rest in bearings carried by the frame of thetable. Of this frame, one cross-piece 20, nearest thereceiving end, ispivotedupon a crank 21, set upon vertical shaft 22, driven by the bevelgear 23, from a shaft 24, actuated bv a belt from the countersha-ft 25,by which the main shaft is.. driven. The other cross-piece 26, of theframe of the table, is

The peculiarity of the mo- 9 surface of thesetting up table has a com-.

pound motion, consisting a longitudinal reciprocation along with thewhole table, a lateral reciproca"'on at the receiving end only of thetable, and an intermittent drive operating only as the table movesforward.

This combination of motions effects apeculiar joggling of theconfections, which have been fed upon it, of such intensity as to tumblethem about, the joggling motion being strong enough to constantly rightor set uponthe flat end, confections resting upon their side, althoughnot strong enough to overturn confe'ctions which have been righted.Gnejof the reasons why this action takes place is that an article ofgenerally conical form when resting onits conical surface adds themomentum of its rotary motion to the motion of the j'oggling surfaceupon which it rests, while when resting. on its base no such momentumexists. As a result of the travel of; the confections from one end totheother of this settingnp table, nearly all of the confections beforereaching the discharge end have been right'ed or set upright.

Touching the upper surface of the carrier 17, is a brush 33,'which'derives its rotation from the motion of the carrier. It is useful tospread or" distribute the confection more evenly across the widthof thecarrier '17, and to limit any momentarily to'o rapid feeding? of theconfections down the chute 13.

To further assist the jo'gglingmot-ion of the surface of. the setting uptable, in setting up the confections, a; series of guiding surfaces 34,are mounted just above. the surface of. the carrier in fixed relation tothe framework of the machine, and in positions inclined to the long aXisof the table, whereby the joggling motion of the carrier constantlydrives the confections which rest upon it against these guiding surfaceswhich thus assist in righting the confections and also arrange them in.lanes running lengthwise of the table. Subsequent'edge guides pushconfections toward the entrance of the runways, which will shortly bedescribed.

The endless carrier 17, is maintained properly taut by the tensionroller 36, m'ounted on the hell crank lever 37, and

eapableof being adjusted by the turn buckle 38, as clearly seen in .Fig.V.

Should the mechanisms Which have been described, be feeding confectionsmore rapidly than the'runway's can receive them,

' and returned or should oneor 'more runways become clogged, any surplusconfections rejected by V the filled runways pass toward the sides ofthe table and are dischargedby the carrier upon the chute 39',whe-ncesuch overplus can be collected in a receptacle/l0, (Fig. Hi), tothe hopper fromtimeto time.

From this point the confections are distributed among a series ofparallel runways each leading to its own wrapping mechanism. In themachine illustrated in the drawings, four such runways are shown, but itwill be understood that the'number may i'ary as may be found convenient.

The carrier 17, discharges by way of an inclined chute a1. Along thischute and overhanging the discl'ia-rge end of the carrier are the guidestrips 42, spa-ced'to form entrances to the runways and partitionsbetween them. Below the discharge end of the chute 411-, is anotherseries of guiding walls 43, which accomplish a narrowing of the runways.Corresponding to each of these runways and forming a travelling bot tomtherefor is an endless carrier band as, mounted at one end upon a pulleyon the shaft 45, and at the other end. by similar pulley on a shaft 4E6.The shaft is supported upon levers 47 counter-weighted by the weight 48,whereby similar and adjustable tension is put upon. all of the endlessbands. The shaft a6, is driven by ageared connection with the shaft 91,(see Fig, 11), which is involved in a sprocketdrive from the shaft 92. i

The endless bands pass between the guiding wallst3, and. then "across anopening 49, wherethe runways and the bands lack any side protection, andthe bands are subjected to tilting means. Ektending across this openingimmediately beneath the bands is a rock shaft 50, to the operativecrankof which is pivoted a link 51, driven by a crank on the end of theshaft. 46. This-rock shaft 50,. carries tilting collars 52, set onebeneath each band. Qne of these is clear y shown in perspective in Fig.XIlV. It is provided with two inclined surfaces, one sloping in onedirection, and the other in the other, and so related to each other thatas the shaft rocks, these inclined surfaces successivelypush against thelower side of each endless band, and tilt it first to one side and thento the other. of these surfaces as shown in Figs. XIX and XX, isnotsufiicientf to cause confections resting upright thereon, to tumble offthe band, but if confections have reached The inclination vide a meansofeliminating an excess of confections since such excess cannot remain onthe belts where there are no sides to the channels,

For the remainderof its oper tive travel, each endless band passes alonga metal channel 53. Initially, this channel has low edges, as shown inFig. XVI, but first one and then the other edge is turned partway over,asillustrated in Figs. XVII and XVIII, so that during the latter partofits travel, the

band draws the confections through a partially closed channeled runwayof such shape that the confections are confined in their lateralmovement, so that they cannot stagger enough to lock, and in theirvertical movement so that they cannot capsize. The edges of thechannel53 at the beginning of their inturned portions are inclined as shown inXV, so that any confections which by any possibility passthe setting uptable l6 and the tiltin mechanism illustrated in Figs. XIX and A X ontheir sides, as shown in Fig; XV, are naturally rejected and thrownsidewise from the channel. This tends especially to eliminate misshapenor abnormal shaped confections, since confections of perfectly normalshapes will not 3 usually pass the tilting mechanism unless resting ontheir bases.

In dropped goods, notwithstanding the variations'in shape to which theyare subject, there is naturally a plane at a determinable height abovethe base at which all the goods have a common cross-section, and thechannel 53, is so shaped that the line of contact of the channel sides,touches the sides of the confections in this plane. Below this plane, onthe other hand, the shape and dimensions of the channel 53 enable it toaccommodate any upright confections whose forms are not so far beyondthe normal range of variation as must prevent their reaching thisportion of the channel.

As the confections pass along the runways, they are subject toinspection and the rejection of a y imperfect or misshaped confectionsmay be thus manually facilitated if desired.

A' clutch on the shaft 25, is operated by the lever 62, (see I), the endof which is connected bya pin and slot connection with the transverseshifting rod 63, by the movement of which the entire machine can bequickly started or stopped bythe operator from a point where the linesof travelinsz" confections are subjectto inspection.

The channels 58, lead each toa point' which is in juxtaposition to theplungers by which the wrapping operation is effected, as will behereafter described. The end ofeach. channel is protected by a gate 55,forming part of the slip feed 56, by which, when the gate is opened, theendmost confection is received and tolled off to one side, and depositedupon the envelopmcnt table, in proper position. The motion of these slipfeeds and the gates which they carry, is a transverse motion, which isaccomplished by reciprocation of a slide bar 57, carrying spring clips54, to which the slip feeds are attached. This slide bar 57, (see Fig.XI), is pivotally attached at one end to a pivoted lever 58, springpressed against a cam 59,

by the rotation of which the slide bar is reciprocated to effect theintermittent opening of the terminal gate of each channel, and thefeeding of the endmost confection to the envelopinent table forwrapping, as hereinafter described.

The spring clips are slidably set upon the slide bar 57, subject to theadjustable pressure of flat springs interposed between the side of thespring clip and the opposing side of the slide bar, (see X to XIII).This permits the slip feed to remain stationary, notwithstanding thereciprocation of the slide bar, in the contingency that a confection isbut partially fed from the runway channel as shown in Fig. X. Fixedstops 60, and 61, put a proper limit to the play of the spring clipsupon the slide-bar.

The wrapping mechanism herein shown forms the subject matter of anapplication filed by me under date of December a, 1915, Serial No.65006, and will, therefore, not be described in detail. A generalexplanation of the same will, however, facilitate the understanding ofthe prefererd type of wrapping mechanism with which .the presentinvention may be successfully associated.

The wrapping mechanism is substantially confined within a superstructure70, comprised by the side frames of the machine (see Figs. I, II, IV,VIII and IX). The tin foil is drawn from a supply roll 71, and throughthe instrumentality of a guide roll 72, directed to a pair ofcooperative cutting rolls 78, and 7 4, whereby the web is divided into aplurality of ribbons corresponding in number to that of the channels 53.These ribbons are thereafter passed between the feed rolls 75, and 76,whereby they are horizontally cut into squares of the required size forwrapping the individual confections.

If preferred, the web may be supplied with paper stickers whichultimately serve as a lining for the tin foil wrapper. These areprovided by a mechanism comprehensively indicated at 77, after the underface of the foil has been supplied with daubs of adhesive by themechanism 78, for this purpose. After severance by the rollers 75, and76,

i the squares cut from the foil are directed by rectly over theseapertures and the con-fec- V tions thereafter properly delivered andcentered upon these squares by means ofthe slip in feeds of the feedingmechanism already described. A series of plungers 86, respectivelyaligned with the lobed apertures of the envelopment table, subsequentlyforce the con- 1 fections together with the foil through the saidapertures, while the spring pressed plates yield contemporaneously andin the further progress of the confections, serve to facilitate theenvelop-ment of the same.

The confections are deposited by means of the plungers, upon a twistingtable 87, which comprises a series of paired bars 88, and 89, wherebythe wrappers are finally twisted aboutthe confections and delivered tothe discharge chute 90.

The several devices above described are all geared or otherwiseco-ordinated with the horizontal shaft 9, so as to be operative inproper timed relation with each other, and also with the feeding andaligning meehanism.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, means for setting uprightpromiscuouslyfed generally conical objects, which comprise a movingsurface uponwhi'ch the objects are fed, and means for imparting to saidsurface a juggling motion of such intensity as to be capable of.settingup on its to base a conical object lying on its side, but not ofsuflicient intensity to overturn. such a conical object standing on itsbase.

2. In a machine of the class described,

means for setting upright promiscuously fed generally conical objects,which comprise a moving surface, and a fixed guiding surface injuxtaposition to the moving sun face, and means for impartingintermittentmotion to the moving surface, whereby objects resting uponit are thrown against the fixed surface, the intensity of the motion ofthe moving surface being such that said objects if resting on theirconical surface are thrown against the fixed surface with sufficientforce to set them upon their base,

but not with sufficient force to effect an overturning of such objectsif standing upon their base.

8. In a: machine of the, classy described, a

69 setting up table with an endless" carrier passing longitudinally overits face, means for effecting lateral reciprocation of a part of saidtable, and guiding surfaces held in fixed relation above the movingsurface of said table, andso close thereto that objects resting uponthesurface of the table are carried into contact therewith by the motionthereof.

l. In a machine of the class described, feeding and setting up meanscomprising 7 a table, the surface of which is given a jolting motion,whereby conicalobjeets if resting on their periphery are set upon theirbase, in combination with. means whereby promiscuously-fed conicalobjects are; carried over the surface of said table.

5. In a machine of the class described, feedingand setting up meanscomprising. a table pivotally supported at one end upon a rotating crankand at the other end upon a sliding pivot, with means for effecting thecontinuous travel of objects from one end of ,the table to the other.

6. In; a. machine of the class described, a setting up table,- provided.with means for setting conical objects on. their base, means foreffecting the travel of such objects across the surface of. the table,during the setting up operation, means for; continuously feedingpromisouo'usly-fed objects to; the receiving end of the table, and meanswhereby said objects having been set up during their travel across thetable, are fed to one of several similar runways.

7. In a machine of the class described, a as setting up table to whichconfections are fed promiscuously and there setup, a. plurality ofparallel runways leading each. to its own wrapping mechanism, and meansfor feeding confections from. the setting up-table to; the; entrance of.each runway.

8. In a machine of the class described, a setting up table to whichconfections are fed promiscuously and there set up, a plurality of.parallel runways leading. each to its. own wrapping mechanism, means fordistributing confections from thesetting up table among the runways, andmeans whereby the setting up table disposes of any surplus confections.after the runways are filled. V

9. In a machine ofthe classdescribed,a runway for dropped. confectionsof variable form but all having a. plane of. common, dimension at thesame height comprising a channel with overhanging sides affording 11ample space for'accommodating normal variations of form in the portionsof the con fections below their natural plane of common dimension, butat said plane confining the confections so narrowly as to preventloclring'or capsizing.

10. The method of handling or feeding dropped confections of variableform. but all having a. plane of common dimension at thesame heightwhich consists in propelling 1 them on their natural bases while closelyconfinedan-d guided at their natural plane of common dimension only.

.11. In amachineofjthe class described, a runway, means for feeding a:-single line of runway, a slip feed held thereon subject to springpressure, and a gate for the runway forming part of the slip feed. 7

12. In a machine of the class described, a runway, means for feedingconfections along the runway, and means for tolling oi theendconfection, comprising a slide bar reciprocating across the end ofthe runway, a slip feed carried thereby and moving across the exit ofthe runway, and a gate attached to the slip feed whereby after oneconfection has been tolled off the runway is closed until the return ofthe slip feed opens it.

13. In a machine of the class described, a runway, means for feeding asingle line of confections along the runwa and means for feedingconfections, one at a time, laterally from the end of the runwaycomprising a confection engaging means operating transversely to the endof the runway, a positive operating means therefore and a slip connection between the confection engaging means and the operating means topermitthe confection engaging means to remain stationary in the eventthat a confection is but partially fed fromthe runway, and a gate forthe runway cooperating with said eed.

14. The combination of a setting-up table for setting droppedconfections on their bases, and runways receiving confections from saidtable having channel portions whereby upright confections are confinedand guided to wrapping means in such wise that they cannot lock orcapsize.

15. The combination of a setting-up table whereon dropped confectionsare set upon their bases, with means for causing the confections totravel to one end thereof; runways receiving confections from said tablehaving travelling bottoms for conveying the confections and also havingguide channel portions whereby upright confections are confined andguided only at their plane of common dimension, in suchwise as toprevent locking or capsizing thereof; and means at the ends of thechannels for toll ing off upright confections laterally therefrom, oneat a time, to corresponding wrapping means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia,Pennsyl- Vania, this 26th day of April 1917.

JOSEPH PERCY REMINGTON.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. BELL, E. L. FULLERTON.

